The Health Benefits of Organic Food
Organic food has been around for a long time. The concept of “organic” dates back to early civilizations, where it referred to the way plants were grown in the wild. Today, organic means growing food in a way that limits the use of pesticides, insecticides, artificial enhancers, hormones, antibiotics, artificial flavorings, and preservatives. In addition, organic food products are produced without using any synthetic fertilizers, hormones, antibiotics, additives, or other additives.
Organic food is no different than the non-organic variety – it must still be organically grown, and it can still be pesticide free. Organic farming is different because traditional farming uses synthetic materials and chemicals to induce production of desirable crops at desired times. Organic farming, as opposed to conventional farming, avoids many of the harmful effects of chemical applications. Organic farmers do not use synthetic pesticides, herbicides, artificial fertilizers, or hormones. When pesticides and herbicides are used, the result is often hazardous to humans and animals.
There are a number of hazards associated with using synthetic pesticides and herbicides. These chemicals can be absorbed into the food, and in large quantities, these substances can build up to toxic levels. This can irritate the digestive tract, lead to food allergies, cause neurological disorders, cause a decrease in the immune system, lower the quality of eggs, soil, and water, create clogged arteries, poison livestock, and create environmental pollution. Studies show that exposure to high amounts of synthetic pesticides and herbicides has resulted in the development of antibiotic resistance, weak natural killer cells, multiple sclerosis and cancer. Additionally, many scientists believe that excessive exposure to synthetic pesticides has led to an increasing number of childhood illnesses such as chronic asthma, ADHD, and neurodegenerative diseases.
The major benefits of eating Organic food are that pesticides and herbicides have been found to be ineffective in preventing pests from invading the garden. Pests simply do not care whether they consume organic fruits and vegetables or non-organic products. Also, it is impossible to control pests from one plant to the next, so no matter how hard one tries, pests will continue to find their way into and out of the garden. In addition, if an infected fruit or vegetable slips from your hand, there is a much higher chance that it can become contaminated with pesticides from the surrounding environment.
Organic produce is grown in the same manner as non-organic produce. Organic farmers take many precautions to make sure that the produce they produce is free of chemicals. For example, no harmful chemicals are sprayed onto the produce before it is sent for processing. Organic fruits and vegetables are grown without the use of chemical-based fertilizers or pesticides.
Since organic food is not conventionally grown, much of the nutritional information on food labels is not available. Many companies rely on guesswork and outdated information to place a label on their products. For this reason, consumers must rely on their own knowledge of healthy eating to determine whether a food is truly healthy for them.
Many of the pesticides used on conventionally grown foods are harmful to humans, too. However, these farms are not required to disclose the fact that they use high levels of harmful pesticides. Because of this, the general public is unaware of the health risks associated with pesticide use. Many studies have shown that pesticides contribute to damage to the nervous system, endocrine system, gastrointestinal tract, reproductive system, immune system, and skin. This is why organic produce is becoming more popular.
Organic food is better for you in several ways. The primary benefit of choosing this type of food over traditional produce is that you will feel and see a difference in your body a few days after eating it. With conventionally grown food, you may see little to no change in a week’s time. As you begin to transition to healthier eating, keep in mind that the real test is in the changes that you make. With organic products, you can begin to see healthier skin, a stronger immune system, and less dangerous pesticides in your life.